Samsung Electro Mechanics (CEO Choi Chi-joon) announced on October 4 that it developed the 13-mega pixel OIS (Optical Image Stabilizer) camera module with improved performance.

The new camera module has greatly improved the shooting performance and power consumption. Its correction angle is 1.5 degrees, better than 0.7 degrees, the correction angle of digital cameras currently available in the market. The correction angle is the shootable range taking the hand blur into consideration.

Shooting performance at a low light level was also improved. Even if a long exposure time is set up in a dark place, the image stabilizer makes it possible to take sharper pictures. According to Samsung’s own performance measurement, the low-light shooting brightness was increased 8 times, and the camera was optimized for the full HD video shooting as well. The power consumption of the camera is also enhanced. The OIS function was added to the existing Auto Focus function, but power consumption was kept at a minimum, suppressing the battery drain.

Samsung Electro Mechanics completed the development of the prototype, and is talking business with global smartphone manufacturers. The company is planning to start mass-production in the first half of next year.

“As the competition for high-performance smartphones is getting fiercer, the market for camera modules with the built-in OIS function is expected to be opened,” said Jeong Dae-hyeon, director in charge of developing camera modules at Samsung Electro Mechanics. “We will pre-empt the market by developing not only the high-value-added OIS function, but also differentiated camera module solutions ahead of others.”

Samsung Electro Mechanics will release the new product at the Electronics and IT Industry Fair, which is held in KINTEX in Ilsan for 3 days starting on October 7.